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Full Idea
Whether to reject an anomaly has to be decided on the basis of the availability of a rival theory, and on the basis of the positive evidence for the theory in question.
Gist of Idea
Anomalies are judged against rival theories, and support for the current theory
Source
W.H. Newton-Smith (The Rationality of Science [1981], III.9)
Book Ref
Newton-Smith,W.H.: 'The Rationality of Science' [RKP 1981], p.75
| 165 | If the apparent facts strongly conflict with probability, it is in everyone's interests to suppress the facts [Plato] |
| 16860 | Inductive generalisation is more reliable than one of its instances; they can't all be wrong [Mill] |
| 15881 | We can save laws from counter-instances by treating the latter as analytic definitions [Harré] |
| 3862 | All theories contain anomalies, and so are falsified! [Newton-Smith] |
| 3863 | The anomaly of Uranus didn't destroy Newton's mechanics - it led to Neptune's discovery [Newton-Smith] |
| 3864 | Anomalies are judged against rival theories, and support for the current theory [Newton-Smith] |
| 21508 | Anomalies challenge the claim that the basic explanations are actually basic [Bonjour] |